Google announces free in-home wireless broadband service

"Dark porcelain" project offers self-installed plumbing-based Internet access

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 1, 2007 - Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) today announced the launch of Google TiSP (BETA)™, a free in-home wireless broadband service that delivers online connectivity via users' plumbing systems. The Toilet Internet Service Provider (TiSP) project is a self-installed, ad-supported online service that will be offered entirely free to any consumer with a WiFi-capable PC and a toilet connected to a local municipal sewage system.

"We've got that whole organizing-the-world's-information thing more or less under control," said Google Co-founder and President Larry Page, a longtime supporter of so-called "dark porcelain" research and development. "What's interesting, though, is how many different modalities there are for actually getting that information to you - not to mention from you."

For years, data carriers have confronted the "last hundred yards" problem for delivering data from local networks into individual homes. Now Google has successfully devised a "last hundred smelly yards" solution that takes advantage of preexisting plumbing and sewage systems and their related hydraulic data-transmission capabilities. "There's actually a thriving little underground community that's been studying this exact solution for a long time," says Page. "And today our Toilet ISP team is pleased to be leading the way through the sewers, up out of your toilet and - splat - right onto your PC."

Users who sign up online for the TiSP system will receive a full home self-installation kit, which includes a spindle of fiber-optic cable, a TiSP wireless router, installation CD and setup guide. Home installation is a simple matter of GFlushing™ the fiber-optic cable down to the nearest TiSP Access Node, then plugging the other end into the network port of your Google-provided TiSP wireless router. Within sixty minutes, the Access Node's crack team of Plumbing Hardware Dispatchers (PHDs) should have your internet connection up and running.

"I couldn't be more excited about, and am only slightly grossed out by, this remarkable new product," said Marissa Mayer, Google's Vice President of Search Products and User Experience. "I firmly believe TiSP will be a breakthrough product, particularly for those users who, like Larry himself, do much of their best thinking in the bathroom."

Interested consumers, contractually obligated partners and deeply skeptical and quietly competitive backbiters can learn more about TiSP at http://www.google.com/tisp/install.html.

About Google Inc.
Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. wannabes Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.

Alton Brown

Thanks to my move down here to Cincinnati, I had the opportunity to meet Alton Brown. He was in town at the Cincinnati Home & Garden show. He gave an interesting and funny presentation about food, TV and technology. Afterwards he did a Q & A. I got everyone but two questions on video with my Kodak V550. It turned out pretty good. He did two presentations, one at 1pm and one at 3pm. I ended up staying for both since I did not know the first time that we needed a ticket to get something signed.

This was from the second show.

He is a very good story teller. You could tell, after being at both presentations that he was just pulling different stories up depending on what people would say during Q & A etc.

I'm usually not star struck when I see someone famous, however I did a little with Alton. I've been watching him since the first season of Good Eats, I have all his books, I watch all the episodes of Feasting on Asphalt, I watch Iron Chef America, so I see him a lot and I've learned a lot about cooking from him. So when I got up on stage to have him sign my book and have a picture taken, I felt like a moron. After first only saying my name, barely, and then asking him how he was (dumb), I sat there as he signed the book. I then blurted out, "Your books are great, by the way." Gee, could I have sounded any more like a retard? He instantly stopped signing the book, looked at me and genuinely said, "Thank you very much!" At least he was nice about it. I'm sure there are plenty of people that do that. There was a huge crowd there for both shows.


Look at the goof with Alton Brown!

Surprisingly the picture above turned out pretty good. I usually hate all pictures of me but this one isn't too bad.

Anyway, it's nice, when you finally meet someone famous, that they are just like you were hoping they were. Alton is exactly the same in real life as he is on all his shows.

There were some news that he gave out at todays presentation as well. First, the next season of Good Eats goes into production this Tuesday. Yea! The second was that in the spring, he will be going back out on motorcycles to do another season of Feasting on Asphalt. Woo hoo! The third was that, starting in July, Good Eats will be on the Food Network twice as much as it is now. And finally, maybe the biggest news, Alton challenged Emeril to an Iron chef match!!! Now, I would love to see that!!!! Yes I did get that on video and I will try to post it soon. Its a good shot too, since he was talking to the guy right behind me so he is looking right into my camera.

Well that was my full day. You can view more pics from the day on my MySpace page.

DAN